Results 15,521-15,540 of 18,482 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The following table shows a breakdown of applications received under the Early Retirement Scheme in 2007 and 2008 by farm holdings transferred to family members and non-family members. Early Retirement Scheme Transfers to family members Transfers to non-family members 2007 91 48 2008 211 116 Most of these transfers were by lease. Definitive transfers of holdings were as follows: ...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: Dairy product prices reached record high levels in 2007 and early 2008 and producer prices also peaked in that time. Since then international dairy product prices have fallen back considerably, although the average Irish producer price for 2008 was similar to the 2007 price. Indications are that markets will remain weak in the first half of 2009 and I made clear to Commissioner Fischer Boel...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: Of the 12,319 farmers who are eligible for 2008 REPS 4 scheme payments, 10,773 applied before the 15 May 2008 and a further 1,546 applied under the special arrangement agreed with the EU Commission for REPS 2 plans terminating in 2008 whereby farmers with plans terminating on or before the 31 August had to lodge their application by 15 May 2008 and a full plan by 31 July 2008, and those...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 152 together. Dairy farmers incomes are comprised of the market price paid for milk and direct income support from the EU. Market forces have a significant and increasing influence on the price paid for milk. World market prices determine the returns received by dairy processors and these in turn are reflected in the price paid to farmers. In...

Written Answers — North-South Ministerial Council: North-South Ministerial Council (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: This meeting had to be cancelled because the DUP Minister scheduled to attend was delayed at Heathrow Airport.

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: As I indicated to the Joint Oireachtas on Agriculture I am establishing a review group with representatives from my Department, the Department of Health and Children and other state agencies concerned, to examine all aspects of the dioxin incident and to make recommendations as to the future policy in this area. Dr. P. Wall, associate professor of Public Health at UCD, has agreed to chair...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The provision in my Department's vote for REPS in 2009 is €355 million.

Written Answers — Agricultural Exports: Agricultural Exports (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Irish agri-food and fisheries sector is operating in a global market that is experiencing significant challenges and unprecedented change and at the same time providing significant long term opportunities. Despite the well documented challenges in the global market, I believe that this indigenous industry has the potential to boost export returns and approach €10 billion in annual...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Farm Improvement Scheme was introduced by my Department in July 2007 with funding of €79 million as agreed under the 2006 Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016, and was suspended on 31 October 2007 as applications received had reached this level of funding. The applications received under the Scheme are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding available.

Written Answers — Agricultural Exports: Agricultural Exports (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: Bord Bia, under the aegis of my Department, is the State agency responsible for market development of food, drink and horticulture. In addition to specific allocations for quality assurance measures and healthy eating initiatives, Bord Bia has a marketing and promotional budget for 2009 of €20m. This has enabled Bord Bia to implement a comprehensive set of promotional programmes and...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 144 together. My Department has been actively progressing an initiative to improve the health of the national herd and flock for many years and this was given added impetus by the inclusion in the Programme for Government of a commitment to introduce a herd health initiative to deal with non-regulated diseases. To advance these objectives, I recently...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The number of confirmed BSE cases here was 23 in 2008 which represents a continuation of the trend of falling numbers of cases since 2002 when there were 333 cases.

Written Answers — Farm Safety: Farm Safety (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: I am very concerned with the level of farm safety on our farms. Last year 21 people died on Irish farms and this year to-date 3 people have died on Irish farms. I strongly support the work of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), which is the national body in Ireland with responsibility for securing health and safety at work. In 2002 the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee was...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: A total of €57,705,655.80 was paid to REP scheme participants in December 2008.

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: I am fully aware of the importance of the live export trade to Irish farmers and exporters. My Department has provided the necessary services to facilitate the live export trade on Saturdays at the export assembly locations. Nevertheless and in line with all services being provided by Government Departments, it is essential that the required service is provided in the most cost effective...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: Since 1995, my Department has made ex-gratia payments to animal welfare organisations to assist in their work in the direct delivery of animal care and welfare services. Initially, these payments were made from residual funds in my Department's Vote at the end of each year. However, specific provisions for this purpose have been included in my Department's Estimates in recent years. Ex...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The deadline for completion of work and the submission of claims for grant payment under the Farm Waste Management Scheme expired on 31 December 2008 although applicants were permitted to submit certain supporting documentation up to 9 January 2009. Last week, the Government took a number of decisions on the overall Expenditure Control and Economic Strategy that included the funding for the...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The considerable potential of the Irish aquaculture sector to create wealth and jobs in coastal communities has been recognised by the Government for some time. The Seafood Strategy, Steering a New Course — Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-2013, identifies a much bigger role for aquaculture in meeting the increasing demand for seafood and...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: Invoices/receipts submitted by farmers for the purposes of grant payments under the Farm Waste Management Scheme are available on request from the Department's local AES offices.

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: Chicken fillets produced within the EU are subject to the same health and safety requirements regardless as to their origin. For poultry products imported from outside the EU these must come from plants approved under the European Union veterinary inspection regime and having equivalent standards as that within the EU. There is a set of inspection procedures in place to ensure compliance...